XL: How to Create a Dynamic Named Range

ID: Q148669

The information in this article applies to:

SUMMARY

In Microsoft Excel, you may have a named range that needs to be extended to include new information. For example, if you are using a database to which you continually add new information, you may want to use the sample Visual Basic for Applications code included in this article to extend the named range.

MORE INFORMATION

Microsoft provides programming examples for illustration only, without warranty either expressed or implied, including, but not limited to, the implied warranties of merchantability and/or fitness for a particular purpose. This article assumes that you are familiar with the programming language being demonstrated and the tools used to create and debug procedures. Microsoft support professionals can help explain the functionality of a particular procedure, but they will not modify these examples to provide added functionality or construct procedures to meet your specific needs. If you have limited programming experience, you may want to contact the Microsoft fee-based consulting line at (800) 936-5200. For more information about the support options available from Microsoft, please see the following page on the World Wide Web: 

   http://www.microsoft.com/support/supportnet/refguide/
The following macro selects the current region and then defines it as the named range "database" (without the quotation marks). If you add data to that current region and run the macro it will then include the data in the named range called database. To be certain that the current region contains only the information that you want to include in the named range, select a cell within the region, and press the CTRL+* keys.

To create a dynamic named range

1. In Microsoft Excel 97, press ALT+F11 to activate the Visual Basic 

   Editor. On the Insert menu, click Module.

   In Microsoft Excel 5.0 or 7.0, on the Insert menu, point to Macro
   and click Module.
2. Type the following code into the module sheet: 

      Sub DynamicNamedRange()

         Dim DefinedName As String

         DefinedName = "database"

         ' Selects the current region based on the current defined name.
         Range(DefinedName).CurrentRegion.Select

         ' Names the selected region.
         Names.Add Name:=DefinedName, RefersToR1C1:=Selection

      End Sub
2. Use the mouse to highlight the named range.

3. On the Insert menu, click Name, and then point to Define.

4. In the Define Name dialog box, type the name "database" (without the 

   quotation marks).

   NOTE: You can use any defined name, but it is important that you
   change the name assigned to DefinedName variable in the macro
   included below.
5. Run the macro you created in step 2.

REFERENCES

For additional information about getting help with Visual Basic for Applications, please see the following article in the Microsoft Knowledge Base: 

   ARTICLE-ID: Q163435
   TITLE     : VBA: Programming Resources for Visual Basic for
               Applications
Additional query words: 5.00 7.00 xl97 8.00 
Keywords          : kbprg kbdta kbdtacode PgmHowto KbVBA 
Version           : WINDOWS:5.0,5.0c,7.0,97; MACTINTOSH:5.0,98
Platform          : MACINTOSH WINDOWS
Issue type        : kbhowto

Last Reviewed: May 17, 1999